How Burns was named

As the 1880's got under way, the community that would become Burns was steadily growing.  George McGowan, a store owner born in Scotland, relished the frontier and good literature in equal measure. He made a lifelong study of the poet, Robert Burns, calling him the "Poet of the People." 

Another local rancher and businessman, Peter Stenger, was considered one of the more outstanding characters of the community.

In need of more capital for his mercantile business, George McGowan accepted Peter Stenger as a partner when Stenger put up required funds and built a large store near the Stenger home in 1883.  Although Stenger spent most of his time in ranching, he took pride in the community and suggested that it be named for him.  McGowan steered Stenger from this thought, arguing that too many "boys" might start calling it "The Stenger town where they got stung." Someone else suggested that the community be called "McGowan," but McGowan objected to this.  McGowan suggested, "How about Burns for the immortal poet?" No objections were made so a petition was submitted and approved by the authorities at Washington, and the name "Burns" has remained thus far. 

Early history

Burns became a town in 1891. By this time the town was booming, with doctors, stores, post office, hotels, saloons, etc. George McGowan become the postmaster. A cemetery was started by the burial of Matt Egan who had brewed a gun fight with Jack Miller. The cemetery is still used for the loved ones of local persons living in the area today.

Traveling from Burns to the county seat in Canyon City was a two day trip. This inconvenience promoted the splitting of Grant County and a bill for an act to create the county of Harney in 1889. Burns claimed the county seat by a narrow margin and held its first session at the permanent county seat July 7, 1890. Dances were held, churches built, and ball games played. Homesteaders settled the area. A library was started with 50 books and the first set of twins were born December 1889 -- a twelve pound girl and an eight pound boy.

In September 1893 the organization of Troop A of the Oregon National Guard was perfected in this newest county. A.W. McGowan, George's son, was it's captain.

Awards of contract for building the first Courthouse went to George W. Young. The frame building cost $6,000 and was completed in 1895.

In 1910 Archie McGowan established the first Ford Car Dealership and garage in Burns, selling four Model T's that year. It was the beginning of the oldest Ford dealership in Oregon and the dealership remains in Burns today, at the same location.

Burns, a cattle and timber town

Peace agreements with the Indians encouraged settlement of the Harney country.  These settlers saw the advantages for raising cattle and by the early 1860's the area was firmly established as a ranching community.  

With the Desert Lands Act of 1877, desert lands were defined for reclamation in three states; California, Oregon and Nevada. These laws affected the course taken by the first cattle barons in the Harney country. Some of the first ranches were established around this time and are still in existence today. 

Rodeos began in the early 1920's and they continue today, drawing many professional cowboys. The women started competing with their sewing, handiwork, cooking and gardening and started the fair exhibit, which also continues to grow with many beautiful items of interest. Children keep busy with their 4-H projects, which many enter at the State Fair held in Salem each year.

The timber and log mills brought many people to the Burns area in the late 1920's. The Edward Hines Lumber Company was established in 1928 and the area grew significantly. Timber and logging industries greatly contributed to the Burns economy until the early 1990's when the last of the mills closed, due to the decline of the forest industry.

Today, the community is flourishing with the advent of manufacturing and telecommunications, in addition to the firmly established ranching community.